Panther Press
September 11, 2026
Message from the Administrators
Dear Running Brook Elementary Families,
What a wonderful week at RBES! Our students are settling into the rhythm of learning, building positive school routines, and enjoying time with their classmates and staff. It has been exciting to see their engagement each day.
We encourage you to continue the conversation at home by asking your child about what they learned, what they enjoyed, and what they are looking forward to at school. Please also check your child’s daily communication folder for important information and homework.
Thank you for your continued partnership.
Katie Carter, Principal
Dale Allen, Assistant Principal
Jaime Gittleson, Assistant Principal
RBES Open Feedback From
Please use this open feedback form to pose questions, give kudos, or leave comments for the Running Brook Administrative Team. Your response can remain anonymous, or you can provide your name for a follow-up phone call.
Hispanic Heritage Month Resources
Please see linked Community Newsletter: Hispanic Heritage Month Newsletter
Free and Reduced Price Meals (FARMs) Program~IMPORTANT
Many HCPSS families may be eligible to receive benefits through the Free and Reduced Price Meals (FARMs) program.
Qualifying families can take advantage of a wide range of additional resources and discounts, including free college applications, free or reduced JumpStart dual enrollment tuition, discounted internet through the Comcast Internet Essentials program, and more.
Families must submit a new application every school year. During the first 30 school days, students with FARMs eligibility from the prior school year will continue to receive benefits. Any student whose family has not filled out an application by the 30th school day will have their status changed to full pay until a new application is received.
Parents/guardians are highly encouraged to fill out the applications as soon as possible. It is very important that applications are filled out accurately and completely.
Apply online (and you can change the language of the form on the top left of the page)
Apply by mail: Paper applications will be available at all school front offices. Applications can be returned to the school or mailed to HCPSS Food & Nutrition Services, 10910 Clarksville Pike, Ellicott City, MD 21042
Answers to frequently asked questions on HCPSS meals and additional meals/nutrition assistance programs can be found on the HCPSS Help site. If you have questions regarding the program, please visit www.hcpss.org/FARMs or contact Food and Nutrition Services at 410-313-6743 or foodsvc@hcpss.org.
Resources to help with this program
FARMs paper applications - In print production, to be delivered to schools and made available to families
Title I Annual Meeting
Please join us for our RBES Title I Annual Meeting on September 24th. The goal of this meeting is to share what it means to be a school-wide Title I school, get input on the Title I Compact & Plan, and provide an additional opportunity for families and caregivers to be involved in their child(ren)’s educational journey at RBES. You are our partners in education and we value your input. Additional details can be found here.
HCPSS Partnerships 2025-2026
Attendance Matters
The year to date attendance rate for RBES is 95%. We have not had one day yet this school year where all students have been present.
Research is clear that showing up for school has a huge impact on a student’s academic and social success, starting from kindergarten and continuing through high school. Absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with school, or even facing social challenges.
Missing 10% (or about 18 days of a school year) can drastically affect a student’s academic success.
By the 6th grade, absenteeism is one of three signs that can indicate if a student is at risk for dropping out of high school.
In the 9th grade, regular and high attendance predicts graduation rates better than 8th grade test scores.
Student attendance is a major point of focus for the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE). Starting in the 2023-2024 school year, MSDE lowered the chronic absenteeism rate from 20% to 10%, meaning that at 10%, a student should receive support and interventions to improve their absenteeism.
Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) believes that attendance is key to student success. Maryland's attendance rate represents the average daily attendance rate of students in grades 1-12, including special education students. The state's proficient standard for attendance rate is 94%, and the advanced standard is 96%."
In support of achieving Exemplary Attendance for all students, we are sharing with you a comprehensive approach to attendance supports and interventions.
If a student has missed 5% of their monthly attendance days (as few as 1-2 days a month), parents/guardians will receive a Care and Concern Phone Call and letter from their school. This step will allow staff members to coordinate with families to determine how the student can be supported for better attendance.
If a student has missed 10% of their monthly attendance days (this is defined as chronic absenteeism by MSDE), parents/guardians will receive a 10% Chronic Absenteeism Attendance Letter. Parents/guardians and students may be scheduled for an attendance conference. Other interventions and supports may also be used in an effort to assist the student.
If a student has missed 15% of their monthly attendance days, in addition to the interventions and support at 5% and 10%, these students may require an attendance support plan. Students may also be referred to the Central Attendance Team.
If a student has missed 20% of their monthly attendance days, parents/guardians will receive a 20% Emergency Chronic Absenteeism Letter or Habitual Truancy Letter. Students may be referred to Project Attend and/or the State’s Attorney’s Office for habitual truancy.
With the collaborative effort of HCPSS parents/guardians, staff, and students, we are confident that all students can have successful attendance. This will improve student success in school and future life.
If your student is absent or will be absent, please contact us at the following email address to explain the reason RBESAbsence@hcpss.org In the email please Include the following information:
Student First and Last Name and Grade
Reason for absence (e.g., illness, bereavement, observance of a religious holiday, lack of transportation)
Reporting Bullying
The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) is committed to providing a safe and nurturing environment for all students. Preventing bullying is an important part of this goal. HCPSS Policy 9460 prohibits bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, including hate/bias incidents, and intimidation.
HCPSS recently launched a new Bullying, Cyberbullying, Harassment, or Intimidation (BCHI) Reporting Form that allows students, staff, and families to easily and confidentially report concerns. The BCHI Reporting Form should be used to report known or suspected incidents of bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, intimidation, and hate/bias incidents. These may include physical aggression, threats, retaliation, teasing or name-calling, rumors, exclusion, threatening gestures, online/social media behavior, or conduct related to a student's identity or characteristics.
What happens after you report?
The school will address any immediate safety concerns. The targeted student's parent/guardian will be notified as soon as possible and an administrator will begin the investigation within two school days. Both families will receive written notice of the outcome within 15 calendar days, excluding extenuating circumstances.
A Note About Cyberbullying
In today's digital world, bullying can extend beyond the school day. Cyberbullying can occur through social media, text messages, group chats, gaming platforms, apps, and other digital spaces. Online behavior that occurs outside of school may still require school intervention when it has a connection to the school setting and impacts a student's safety or educational environment. Families are encouraged to talk regularly with their children about responsible online behavior and to save screenshots, messages, posts, or other evidence when concerns arise.
Not sure if it's bullying? Please still tell us. Peer conflict or other concerning behavior may not meet the definition of bullying but may still require school support and follow-up. Students and families do not need to decide whether something “counts” as bullying before asking for help.
For additional information or to submit a report, visit the HCPSS Stop Bullying website or review HCPSS Policy 9460.
RBES House Party
Families are invited to join us on the blacktop as we celebrate our House System and our Kindergarten students learn what house they are in. Monday, September 14th from 3:00-3:40pm. See flyer.
Personal Technology Device Reminder
Families are reminded that students must abide by Board of Education Policy 8080 Responsible Use of Technology, Digital Tools, and Social Media, and specifically Standard E. Student Use-Technology, please see below for additional information or visit the linked policy above.
No students, PreKindergarten-12, will be permitted to use cell phones and other personal technology devices during the student day except for reasons detailed in a student’s IEP, 504, or health plan.
Students may be in possession of personal devices, but they must be “away and silenced,” meaning devices are not able to be seen by either the student or staff member and are set to make no noise. Additionally, devices may not be a distraction.
Smart watches will be permitted to be worn to check time but may not be a distraction.
School administrators and school administrators’ designees may authorize use of a personal device in rare instances such as an emergency for communication purposes.
Picture Day is September 22nd
Say cheese! 📸 Picture Day is coming on Tuesday, September 22nd! Students will have the opportunity to capture a special school-year memory. Please have your child come to school ready to smile and shine. We can’t wait to see those beautiful smiles!
Pre-purchase your order today! CLICK HERE and use code Use code 26runbrook27
📸 We're on Instagram!
Stay connected and see all the amazing things happening at Running Brook Elementary! Follow our new official Instagram account @hcpss_rbes for updates, event highlights, and a peek inside our wonderful school community.
Let's share our school spirit -- follow, like, and tag us to join the fun! 💜✨
School Wide Title I Program
Running Brook is a Title I School wide Program school. Title I is a federally funded program designed to close achievement gaps and ensure all children have an opportunity to access a high-quality education by providing funding for supplemental academic services and supports.
Jodi Aikens | Title I Teacher | Jodi_Aikens@hcpss.org
Chelsea Berube| Title I Teacher | Chelsea_Berube@hcpss.org
Lisa Goldberg | Title I Teacher | Lisa_Goldberg@hcpss.org
Shayla Bright| Community School Coordinator| Shayla_Bright@hcpss.org
Jane Hartlove | Family and Community Liaison | Jane_Hartlove@hcpss.org
